Nabobarsho (Bengali New year) :only Bengali National Festival ?

Pahela Boishakh has already turned as the only national festival for peoples of Bangladesh, the symbol of cultural unity without distinction between class or religious affiliations. Now this is the biggest event in a calender year of Bangladesh. Moreover this is the only common festival for ethnic Bengali's, living anywhere in the world.

King Shoshangko of ancient Bengal, who ruled approximately between 590 CE and 625 CE, is credited with starting the Bengali era though the celebrations of Pohela Boishakh started from the great Akbar's reign. Fatehullah Shirazi, a renowned scholar and astronomer, formulated the Bengali year on the basis of the Hijri lunar and Hindu solar calendars. The new Fasli San (agricultural year) was introduced on 10/11 March 1584, but was dated from Akbar's ascension to the throne in 1556. The new year subsequently became known as Bônggabdo or Bengali year. It was customary to clear up all dues on the last day of Choitro. On the next day, or the first day of the new year, landlords would entertain their tenants with sweets. On this occasion there used to be fairs and other festivities.

On this occasion there used to be fairs and other festivities. In due course the occasion became part of domestic and social life, and turned into a day of merriment. The main event of the day was to open a halkhata or new book of accounts. Many old festivals connected with New Year's Day have disappeared, while new festivals have been added. With the abolition of the zamindari system, the punya connected with the closing of land revenue accounts has disappeared. Kite flying in Dhaka and bull racing in Munshiganj used to be very colorful events. Other popular village games and sports were horse races, bullfights, cockfights, flying pigeons, and boat racing. Some festivals, however, continue to be observed; for example, bali (wrestling) in Chittagong and gambhira in Rajshahi are still popular events. This festival rooted in the rural culture of Bangladesh, has become integral part of city culture. The historical importance of Pohela Boishakh in the Bangladeshi context may be dated from the observance of the day by Chhayanat in 1965. In an attempt to suppress Bengali culture, the Pakistani Government had banned poems written by Rabindranath Tagore & protesting this move, Chhayanat opened their Pohela Boishakh celebrations at Ramna Park with Tagore's song welcoming the month (Esho he boishak,esho esho............). Later, in the mid- 1980s the Institute of Fine Arts added color to the day by initiating the Boishakhi parade, which is much like a carnival parade. Pohela Boishakh is really about celebrating the simpler, rural roots of the Bangladesh. As a result, more people can participate in the festivities together without the burden of having to reveal one's class, religion, or financial capacity. There should be a festival bonus for the service holders as they get in other occasions(Eid,Puja,,,,,,,,,,) to celebrate this event in a more festive manner. Hope Pohela Boishakh continues to be celebrated in the same manner as it connects all ethnic Bengalis irrespective of religious and regional differences.